TESTIMONIALS

Richard provided all the phases of design and service from beginning to end.

Richard designed an auxiliary building to augment and supplement the main house, so that it was an accommodation for guests, but also a space we could use daily as an office and a television screening room. We wanted the design to reflect the main house which was built in the 1950's. Richard was able to take our wishes and design a structure that was consistent with them and added his own creativity to the project. He was able to do a post modern design that beautifully paid tribute to the main house, but reflected a modern design as well. Within those requirements, he totally succeeded and maintained his own creative identity at the same time. After his design was completed and accepted for construction, Richard worked alongside the contractor we hired, and monitored the construction process. He was very attentive and even modified his rate when the construction was prolonged due to the contractor ordering windows different than the ones Richard intended, and the whole project was on hold until the correct windows arrived a month later. Richard provided all the phases of design and service from beginning to end.

Michal P.

Richard is a strong ally and leader for his clients throughout the design and construction process.

"I have an interior design background, and I am very sensitive to design choices – materials, colors, details, scale, spatial ideas, etc. So as I was also Richard's client, I'm sure I presented an interesting challenge for Richard, which he handled with grace and to my entire satisfaction. I couldn't be more pleased with my home's design. My instructions to Richard were to work together with me, to convert my typical 1970s style 2-story condo into a chic, warm, clean-lined, calm, zen-like environment and integrate into it my collection of Japanese accessories and furnishings – these I insisted, must be front/center in whatever design was to be done. And so they were. Richard listened to me and was unusually capable of interpreting my ideas and developing his own design ideas both very much in-keeping with my intentions and wishes. As it turned-out, Richard's design tendencies followed closely with my own, which was perfect for me. Equally well versed in construction processes/details and building code requirements, Richard has a way of speaking to contractors by which they "get it" … from what Richard tells contractors, they understand what is to be done and why, often feeling quite good about it as well, perhaps even when it is different from what they originally thought. This is a rare gift. Richard is quick with ideas that are fitting to the issues at hand and in meetings he is a leader deserving of the respect he is given. He freely engages others as-needed for problem-solving, with a disarming and rarely defensive style – usually having the best solution for the project in-mind rather than any sort–of personal agenda. He is a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend that anyone seeking architectural service first speak to Richard."

Mardi B.

Richard Best added tremendous value through his vision, creativity and talent!

"Richard Best listened to us, carefully considering both of our needs and then added tremendous value through his vision, creativity and talent. As our home was built in the early 1930s he was acutely aware of staying true to its original architecture. We added a 2nd story and from the outside, it looks like it was always a two-story home and the flow and design of the inside feels as if it should have always been that way. We love our home and couldn’t be happier. Richard was referred to us through a common friend and former apprentice of Richard’s. We have referred him many times and would continue to do so!"

"Prior to working with Richard Best, I had contracted a few different architects and spent thousands of dollars, but they did not have the vision to sustain the integrity of our 1920 Spanish Revival family home. Word of mouth lead us to Richard when I heard about some renovations he had done in the heart of Beverly Hills. We knew we wanted modern architecture blended with our 1920 Spanish Revival and wanted to upgrade the interior to a modern day look and feel. Richard is very good at looking at the bones of the house and good at modern approaches. He recommended a list of contractors, and we selected one from his list. We had Richard oversee the entire renovation. Our decision on the plans included a sleek, modern, Italian-style kitchen, enclosed porch, a renovation of the exterior; we added a breakfast room and reconfigured our kitchen/laundry area, which included vaulted ceilings. Richard was adaptive and responsive in the construction process and provided plans that would benefit change. The character of our home has remained intact without disturbing the original design. We have more of an entertainment flow and the ability to have catered meals with ample room for four chefs who would not have a problem moving within the space. We still retain a formal dining room in the original content, retaining the character, yet creating something new that captures the essence of the classic architectural feel. When you progress back into the house it transitions well and we retained the flow and floor plan and opened up the space a little. After the renovation was completed, Richard remained engaged post move-in. The entire process was collaborative and very smooth. After moving back in our home, I don’t think we left for three months afterwards. The new design had continued to reveal more features that were not apparent until we lived in the space. We have enjoyed surprises in the renovation design, resulting in positive discoveries. Richard Best has already received our recommendation to others".

Jay N.

Understood Our Vision to Reconstruct A Home for Resale

Richard was recommended to my partner by another friend. We explained to Richard that we wanted to reconstruct the home, but we weren’t going to live in it. He knew the demographic that would be attracted to the neighborhood and fit in well. He visited the site of the old house prior to demolition and was able to offer suggestions that would help sell the home. Richard quickly understood our vision of the home and came back to us with some ideas. He would offer a variety, with sketches, that would help aesthetically and would help the flow of the property and the outlay. Until the end, he would visit the property to oversee the construction and worked directly with the contractor I hired. I felt this was a big help because he could communicate and resolve any outstanding matters faster than I could. And, this helped to keep things on schedule. As the house was being rebuilt, potential customers were already beginning to come by. The end result was a 3 bedroom, 3 ½ bath home with views on the entire second level . Richard is pleasure to work with from the beginning of the foundation until the end.

Tal S.

Very Receptive to Our Wants and Needs

We worked with Richard on the addition we recently made to our home. We added an entertainment room which includes a pergola, built-in barbecue and sitting area, outdoor area for a pool table, and a 2-car garage. Richard was very receptive to our wants and needs, and was willing to make changes during the process if we requested a change. He also made terrific suggestions without being too pushy which so many architects/designers do. Richard also put up with my crazy thoughts and ideas which is so important dealing with a home owner. He knows the architectural and construction process and provided everything we needed. If there was ever a question on anything such as building codes, he was quick to research and respond with answers. Richard was always available by phone, email, and visited the site often. If there was something that couldn’t be resolved over the phone or email, he was on site to answer questions for us and our contractors. Richard was always available when needed, and always with a smile. The #1 comment made by our guests is that the addition looks like it was always there, which is a reflection of how important it is to Richard that the design flowed with the house. We highly recommend him.

Barbra A.

Richard has the knowledge of Historical Building Renovation.

I hired Richard Best to assist me with developing the conceptual drawings for renovating a historical hotel property in Venice Beach, CA. I heard of Richard because he had done other beach properties, and he was involved with the City of Los Angeles’ restroom restoration project on Venice Beach, and he also worked on the historical Mission Inn in Riverside, CA. I felt he had the knowledge of working with the previous historical properties and city permitting. In meeting with Richard, I had a vision in mind to renovate the front facade of the building to restore it to look as natural as possible and I also had ideas for a rooftop renovation. We are currently in the stages of getting the blue prints approved and coordinating the engineering. Richard also assisted with applying for preexisting historic landmark status. Richard seems to be very flexible and practical and he has a lot of ideas, but also listens and collaborates with my ideas.